For the ovetenses the Naranco is like the Casa de Campo for the locals, Collserola for the locals or the mount Igueldo for the donostiarras. A space linked intimately to the life of citizens, that goes to its slopes to enjoy the outdoors, recreate its heritage or perform sports activities such as hiking or cycling.
The slopes of the Naranco are ideal for rewarding efforts: they are used for walking, training and competition. Throughout the year there are cycle tourism concentrations that aim to reach the top. The top of Naranco also welcomes those professional cyclists who are capable of taking down an entire squad to succeed alone. A short but very hard climb, which José Manuel Fuente made known for the first time in La Vuelta Ciclista in 1974.
· What to see in Mount Naranco?
The landscape in this environment unites a number of attractions: Finnish track, paths for hiking, horseback riding clubs, recreational areas, cider houses and Monuments. The two jewels of pre-Romanesque art in Oviedo: Santa María del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo They are on their way to the top, giving this mountain the indelible hallmarks of the Asturian kingdom and its legendary status. The Naranco appears in the universal history of art with capital letters thanks to these two monuments, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Few mountains boast such wonders. They are 4 kilometers from the urban area.
The Asturian pre-Romanesque of Oviedo
The most native architecture of Asturias loses its roots more than a thousand years ago. The traces of the…
From above everything is dominated an extraordinary aerial view of the city of Oviedo and almost the entire municipality, as well as those of Llanera and Las Regueras. If the day is clear we can enjoy an exceptional view and of more scope, reaching a glimpse of much of the central region of Asturias.
The superb monument of Sacred heart it seems to invite the delight of that vast landscape that mixes, in an unusual way, the most orderly urbanity with the abrupt mountain nature. The Sierra del Aramo, in front, crowns the closest altitudes of the city.
The figure of Jesus, symbolically embracing and protecting the city of Oviedo, It is usually a sacred goal for many walkers who from San Miguel de Lillo, ascending a steep but beautiful path, they pass by the Fountain of the Shepherds, where they quench their thirst with the cleanest and freshest water in the city.
Climb Mount Naranco by car
With the car already in the streets of Oviedo, we must look for the signs that mark the path to Mount Naranco. The route to follow passes through the avenue of the Monuments, which slowly climbs the skirt of the mountain, between a residential area –Ciudad Naranco– where modern and magnificent constructions abound
As soon as houses begin to be scarce, Mount Naranco uncovers all its beauty. Among the trees appears the great building of the Asturian Center and its adjacent facilities, somewhat set back from the road. And without further ado up to the top, where the authentic viewpoint of the city is. On the nearby Picu del Paisano, we see the imposing statue of the Sacred Heart.
Climb Mount Naranco on foot
From the center of Oviedo to the Sagrado Corazón can be reached on foot in just over an hour and a half. They are about 16 kilometers with an accumulated unevenness of 770 m. going up. We can get out of the Tomas Purification Park in the Vallobín neighborhood. At the top of it there is a path to the left that will take us comfortably to the town of ules. Here we start a section by road to the upper part near Brañes. We turn right to take the trails that will take us quickly to the top of the llamaya and we crown the mount.
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
